Nearly everyone has been affected by cancer in some way or another. That’s why we’re so stoked to see all of the amazing breakthroughs in cancer knowledge coming from epigenetic research these days. Will it lead to treatments or cures anytime soon? Who knows, but it sure seems like we’re on the right track. Just take a look at the cancer fighting tools that we’ve covered since EpiGenie started to see how much epigenetics has advanced cancer research.
Cancer Epigenetics Background
Epigenetics in Cancer
This section provides a nice background on the role epigenetics plays in cancer. Many thanks to Zymo Research who put it together and allow us to post this resource on our site.
Epigenetic-based Cancer Diagnostics and Therapies
The Secret Life of 5-Azacytidine
imagine our surprise when a new publication in Epigenetics caught 5-azacytidine also living a secret life of reorganizing histone modifications…lots of them.
Epigenetic Cancer Therapy – Not Just for DNA Anymore
The cytosine analog azacytidine has already been FDA approved to treat preleukemias, but, azacytidine might actually be more potent at inhibiting the methylation of RNA than it is of DNA.
Two Epigenetic Drugs Join Forces with Cisplatin to Knock Out Cancer
Researchers have shown that delivering a 1-2 punch of epigenetic drugs could allow the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin to knock out resistant tumors.
DZNep Hints At New Wave Of Epigenetic Cancer Therapies
DZNep is a histone methylation inhibitor, and has recently created some buzz when it was found to inhibit H3K27 and H4K20 methylation and reactivate silenced genes in cancer cells.
Non-Invasive DNA Methylation Assay for Colorectal Cancer Now Available from LabCorp
LabCorp has announced the commercial availability of the Methylation-Specific PCR Assay for monitoring the methylation status of Vimentin DNA.
Vidaza® and Entinostat Combo; A Potential Lung Cancer Therapy
the combination of Vidaza® (5-azacitidine) and entinostat (SNDX-275) has significant activity in patients with advanced relapsed non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The PSA Debate and DNA Methylation Biomarkers
Published preliminary data poured more fuel on the prostate debate, indicating that the resulting over-diagnoses and treatment from early prostate screening might offset potential mortality from the cancer.
Rinse and Spit: The Future of Cancer Testing
Gather round the spittoon, partners, there’s a new Ome in town. The miRome has joined the proteome and transcriptome as the “third diagnostic alphabet in saliva”.
Improvements in DNAm-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Has Community BEAMing
Methyl-BEAMing may not replace endoscopy as an initial screening tool, but it beats a lot of the other colorectal blood and fecal tests out there.
Targeting Brd4 Fends Off Acute Myeloid Leukemia
RNAi screens found that Brd4 looks like a good target and a small-molecule inhibitor called JQ1 shows promise as a treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).